The Senate must now complete a review of the legislation in its entirety, although passage of both articles almost guarantees gay couples will soon be able to marry and adopt in France.

Once approved, the bill will go back to the National Assembly in late May for final approval. It will then go to the French President François Hollande to sign into law.

During the debate, center-right politician Gerard Roche said adopting the bill would pave the way for medically assisted procreation and surrogacy for gay couples as ‘there are not enough adoptable children.’

A bill legalizing medically assisted procreation and surrocagy for gay couples is expected later in the year.